Owner Comments:
Mintage: 72,120
NGC Population 37/69
Obverse Designer: Christian Gobrecht
Reverse Designer: Christian Gobrecht
Composition: Gold
Fineness: 0.9000
Weight: 4.1800g
AGW: 0.1209oz
Diameter: 18mm
Edge: Reeded
Quarter Eagle production commenced at the San Francisco Mint with a paltry delivery of 246 pieces in 1854. The rarity of the 1854-S and the lack of an 1855-S delivery combine to make the 1856-S the first collectible U.S. Quarter Eagle from the California branch mint. Although collectible, the '56-S is anything but common, and even the limited original mintage of 71,120 pieces does not begin to explain the rarity of this date.
A VERY PERSONAL PEDIGREE: THE STORY OF GRANDMA' S GOLD
In addition to its rarity and historic importance this specimen has a very special pedigree as a family heirloom that my paternal grandmother saved from the melting pot in 1933.
My grandmother was born in Bialystock Poland in 1896 and immigrated to this country as a teenager. She married my grandfather in 1916 and together they ran a small tailor shop. Over the years my grandparents put aside a small number of gold coins including this 1856-S Quarter Eagle.
In 1933 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102 which required all persons to turn in their gold coins, gold bullion and gold certificates to the Federal Reserve. Violation of the order was punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or up to ten years in prison or both. http://www.the-privateer.com/1933-gold-confiscation.html
Although exceptions were made for gold jewelry, rare gold coins, and up to $100.00 in gold coins or bullion per person millions of dollars worth of common to scarce U.S. gold coins were melted down and sent to the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox.
My grandparents being good citizens turned in all but the allowed $100.00 in gold coins. One of the coins they saved from the melting pots was this 1856-S Quarter Eagle. The coin was given to me by my grandmother in 1965.
As a family heirloom and gift from my grandmother this coin has an emotional value which makes it priceless and the most cherished coin in my collection.